Saints Row 2 Details

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We dig up dirt on the story, new missions, and going up against GTA IV.

By Nate Ahearn

The gangster lifestyle has been popularized to the nth degree since Grand Theft Auto first burst onto the scene so many years ago. In August of 2006 Saints Row released to the Xbox 360 as the first, of what was then known as next-gen, free-roaming killing sprees. The nature of the original Saints Row was about delivering over-the-top characters and action set in a grizzled city environment. Saints Row 2 picks up after the events of the first with your character broken and unsure of his loyalties. We recently spoke with James Tsai, Lead Designer for Saints Row 2 at Volition Studios, to get the scoop on everything from returning characters, new mission types and the development team's confidence in going up against the monster known as GTA IV.

IGN: Explain to us exactly what has transpired from Saints Row 1 to Saints Row 2. What has happened to the main character and how has his outlook changed?

James Tsai: Saints Row 2 takes place a few years after the original. With the Vice Kings, Rollerz, and Los Carnales out of the picture, several new upstart gangs have been able to sweep in and make their mark on Stilwater. At the same time, a multi-national conglomerate known as the Ultor Corporation has become a pivotal player in city politics, pumping millions of dollars into rebuilding the metropolis.

Regarding the main character, it's pretty easy to explain what's happened to him: he's slept. Comatose and disfigured after the explosion at the end of Saints Row 1, he has passed the years in the confines of a dingy prison infirmary. Much in the same way his body was rebuilt while in recovery, the city of Stilwater has changed and rebuilt itself. It's a brave new world that he can't wait to tear back down.

IGN: I understand that Julius and Troy are returning to SR2. Are they aware that the Saints stabbed our character in the back at the end of the first game? How has their role changed within the Saints from the first game to Saints 2?

Tsai: Without trying to give up too many spoilers, I can definitely say that Julius and Troy do indeed return in Saints Row 2. At the start of the game, we see how far the Saints have fallen and find the old leadership fractured and spread out. Troy has left the ranks of undercover officers to become Stilwater's Chief of Police. Johnny Gat is on death row. As for Julius, the player will find out what his old mentor had to do with the bombing that left him for dead in the first game.

How cool is that?

IGN: Since your character undergoes plastic surgery at the beginning of the game (in order to create your custom look) do Julius, Troy and the rest of the Saints recognize you from the get-go or do you have to reveal your identity later down the line?

Tsai: The player is actually quite infamous in our game; he's the leader of the Saints, and everyone knows it this time around. We do crack a few jokes in the storyline referring to the fact that the player might look completely different than in Saints Row 1, but the visual disparity is not a focal point of the game.

It was very important to us to continue to offer a more robust character customization system than anyone else. Playing as who you want to be is part of the core Saints Row experience. You can even select your voice this time around, since your player is no longer a mute who stands by and takes orders but rather an angry badass who takes charge in every situation.